Policy and External Affairs Consultant

Consult; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 111,000 - 185,000; Part time

Job summary

Consult is seeking an independent Policy and External Affairs Consultant for the UK Water Retailer Council (UKWRC). Location: remote with regular travel, up to 7 days a month, for a 3-year term.

You will act as a confident spokesperson, build relationships with stakeholders, chair member meetings impartially, influence regulators, and help deliver a well‑functioning non-household water market. The role involves collaborating with UKWRC administration to guide operations.

Qualifications

• Experience at a senior level ideally in the water industry.
• Proven influencer with experience in influencing government and regulators.
• Impartial Chair with ability to bring members together with differing views.
• Confident spokesperson with communication skills for events.
• Decisive and inclusive, supporting members to make decisions.
• Knowledgeable about delivering change in a regulated sector (ideally water).
• Strong relationships and influence within the water sector or a similar regulated sector.
• Ability to develop understanding of sector issues and provide insights.
• Demonstrable competition law awareness.
• Ability to build new stakeholder relationships and encourage respectful challenge.

Responsibilities

• Chair meetings impartially and guide constructive member discussions.
• Advise on collaborative activities to support a well‑functioning market.
• Raise UKWRC profile by building strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Draft clear, credible consultation responses and briefings.

Skills

Senior level experience

Influencing regulators

Impartial chair

Spokesperson

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Competition law awareness

Managing third parties

Social media skills

Regulated sector experience

Job description

Policy and External Affairs Consultant – UK Water Retailer Council (UKWRC)

Contract for Services

Location: Remote with regular travel

Fees: daily rate (excluding VAT) plus direct expenses

Expected time commitment: up to 7 days a month

Client: UK Water Retailer Council members

Duration: 3-year term subject to early termination or extension

Our objectives

UKWRC is seeking an independent consultant to support and represent UKWRC members. Acting as a confident spokesperson, the selected provider will raise the profile of water retailers by supporting UKWRC to build strong relationships, influence key market stakeholders, and champion the interests of our members.

The consultant will bring together UKWRC members through effective guidance and support, provide an impartial chair for member meetings and advise on collaborative activities that support a well‑functioning non-household water market.

The consultant will work closely with UKWRC’s administration and financial support to guide and support the smooth and effective delivery of UKWRC’s operations and activities.

Who we are

The UK Water Retailer Council (UKWRC) is the senior representative group for water retailers operating in the English and Scottish water retail markets. Our members provide the billing and customer-facing water and wastewater services to non-household customers.

UKWRC’s core purpose is to:

• Promote competition in the water market
• Be the collective voice of Retailers on key market issues
• Advocate for better market outcomes for non-household customers
• Proactively lead positive change in the market

UKWRC’s vision is to achieve a sustainable market which meets the needs of current and future non-household customers and the environment.

What we need

A self-employed consultant who has the following skills and experience:

• Experience operating at a senior level ideally in the water industry
• Proven influencer with experience in influencing government and regulators
• Impartial Chair experienced in facilitating discussion and being able to bring members together who may have differing views
• Confident spokesperson with proven communication skills and experience of speaking at events
• Decisive and inclusive, keeping everyone on side while supporting members to make decisions
• Experienced and knowledgeable about delivering change in a regulated sector (ideally water)
• Strong existing relationships and influence within the water sector (or proven in another regulated sector)
• Ability to develop a full understanding of sector issues and bring relevant insights to members.
• Demonstrable competition law awareness
• Ability to build and maintain new effective relationships with stakeholders
• Able to have robust conversations and encourage challenge in a respectful way
• Able to increase the profile of retailers
• Good strategic thinking and experience in setting and monitoring progress against goals
• Proven written skills and experience in delivering high quality outputs including drafting clear, credible and persuasive consultation responses, letters and briefings
• Strong engagement skills including engagement planning
• Social media skills
• Experience in managing third parties
• Responsive and flexible
• Well organised and able to prioritise competing demands

We do not expect to be the sole client of the successful consultant and recognise that, as a self-employed individual, you will have other business activities unrelated to the services for UKWRC. There is no restriction on external business activities, however it is vital that you have no conflicts of interest while working for the UKWRC.

UKWRC processes your data in line with data protection laws.

Closing date: 5.00pm on 30 October 2026

Interviews are planned for November/December 2026